Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-06-01
A BRAVE WOMAN
BY MAI. HAMILTON.

present p0pulOu9 Guy OF DenFer YVES
known as Cherry Creek; when Pixies
Peak was to the adventurous soul
VII at Leadville and the camps Of the
Gunnieon are to-day, there lived on
the "Gold TRAIL" running from the
settlements to the foot of the noun
tains, q rancher by the name of Ralph
Lathrop. He was young man,
who, with his young wife, had come to
this far away Western country from
Illinois, willing to work and deter
mined to win home among the blue
peaks Of Colorado. He had built g.
small log cabin little off from the
main trail, and was engaged In rails
ing cattle and sheep for home con-
sumption at the time Of which we
write. His family consisted of himself
and wife and q single hired man.
Indians were neither plenty nor
dangerous, the wild beasts of the
country had retired to escape being
shot and the travellers to and fro
upon the trail, although often rough,
were seldom ugly, so that when bust
ness demanded, Mr.. Lathrop did not
hesitate to leave his wife alone for a.
day, and sometimes g. day and B.
night at q time.
One evening at supper. spring
night, with the odor of the fresh
grasses and the budding leaves per-
Tuning all the air, the hired man
Johnson delivered most startling
piece of news.
Did you hear o. the robbery at the
Peak kiln, too, I understand Jim
Bartlett, from the Greek, passed to-
L 4ol
a gang o. these plain fellows, rough
riders, [ reckon, dropped into q
camp last night and took all the
boys gold and shot two O the miners.
They've made fer the mountains, it s
s'posed, but the whole Peak is after
'em. They'll swing the crowd if they
catch 'em."
"Who were the desperadoes ?" asked
Lathrop.
SsThere were only three o. 'em, an
Black Dan, him as was hung In
New Mexico, was one. I guess they
don't know the other" replied John
son. =
"Black Dan," said the master. 81
thought he was on the Pacific coast.
Z He's one Of the worst men ever in
this state. hope they will catch the
party and serve them with border
Justice, quick and sure. | shall feel
better to know that that rascal is I'M
der sod"
why, RaIphp' said his wife Nellie.
<'You are surely not afraid of the
man, Why should you wish him
evil
"He's a terror to any community
and 8 danger to any state" returned
her husband. GA murderer and
worse, hung In New Mexico for revolt
ing crimes, and rescued by his COM
rades; 8 man whose heart is as black
as his flowing beard, and whose hands
are red with human blood;-I wish
him no evil, only Justice and short
rope! And he'll get it if the Peak
boys catch hirn."
Quiet Mrs. Lathrop looked won
deringly at her husband. Surely this
noted desperate must be of the worst
that Ralph should speak so Of him.
And the memory of her husbands
words came to her afterward.
Night fell, the shadow of the depart
ing winter yet rendering chill all the
world behind him, and as the doors
were closed and barred, for this ranch
was miles from the nearest nelghbOr,
fresh logs were thrown upon The fire,
while the little household still talked
of the tragedy at the Peak and the
fleeing robbers pursued by the venge-
full miners.
WELL" said Johnson at last, as he
rose to 60 to the loft and his bed, 81
only hope with you, Mr.. Lathrop,
that they may catch 'em. The coun-
&r-y;I1 he ho1Aa without '0n1 ~
an hour later, sleep ruled, and not
until the early dawn, fresh and rosy,
crept over the Eastern nilltops, did
the little household unbar it's doors
again With the return of day
thoughts of the evening before were
forgotten. What had they to do with
wolves? They had to care for the
sheep.
Breakfast was over, and the hired
man had departed with the herd for
the hills, distant some three miles,
where he would be absent until night,
when suddenly Mr.. Lathrop called to
his wife from the log barn. The
young woman ran to the door.
Nellie, DEAR" said her husband,
GIVE just found greatly to my sur
prise, that we're all out of salt. The
sheep need it and / must have q bar
rel to-day. I've got to go to the
Greek for it, and will not be back be
fore tonight. Johnson will be up
with the sheep early. Good BY"
4 wave of mis- hand, a rattle of the
heavy wagon, the quick beat of the
horses hoofs and Frank Lathrop
was gone, leaving his young wife alone
In the roadside ranch. But the
frontiers woman turned back into her
cabin, after she had watched her hus-
band out of sight, with not a thought
Of danger and scarcely one of loneli-
ness amid all the work which her
busy hands found to do.
The hours crept on. Without the
road lay silent and undisturbed by
passing hoof or wheel; far away on
the distant hillside the sheep wan
dered, indistinct as snow flakes; with
in the housewife worked and sang and
thought OF Ralph. Over all hung a
sky as blue as That of Italy, illumined
by an unclouded sun.